Aquaculture

Welfare of Farmed Pacific White Shrimp

Pacific white shrimp are the world most farmed crustacean; their welfare in intensive tropical ponds involves crowding, disease, and inhumane eyestalk ablation practices.

Key Facts

Pacific white shrimp account for over half of global shrimp aquaculture production
Intensive pond systems hold thousands of shrimp per square meter
Eyestalk ablation is routinely used to accelerate reproduction despite causing clear pain
Antibiotic overuse in shrimp farming is a global public health concern
The Shrimp Welfare Project is developing first-ever welfare standards for shrimp farming

Welfare Considerations

Pacific white shrimp welfare improvement would represent one of the highest-impact welfare interventions possible given the enormous scale of production. Eyestalk ablation elimination and slaughter humaneness improvements are the most urgent priorities.

What You Can Do

Support the Shrimp Welfare Project financially and by promoting their work
Advocate for eyestalk ablation bans in shrimp aquaculture regulations
Reduce shrimp consumption until welfare standards are established
Choose shrimp certified by emerging welfare-aware schemes when available